Greasing device for threaded articles



June 24, 1'941. A. BUGE ErAL GREASING DEVICE FOR THREADED ARTICLES Filed June 27, 1959 ,m, IN.m h s.

-NNE Patented June 24, 1941 f UNITED," STATES PATENT OFFICE i GREASINGKDEVICE FOR THREADED ARTICLES Alfred Barge, Mount Lebanon, Pa., and Alvin H. EngelhardhLorain, Ohio, assignors to National r Tube' Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application Junefzv, 1939, serial No. 281,464

` comms. c1.2214'1.4)

The present invention relates to improvements in greasing devices peculiarly wellsuited for distributing -grease quite uniformly, vboth longitudinally and peripherally over the threads of interiorly threaded articles, 'such as interiorly threaded pipe couplings and fittings. r

In applying couplings and similar fittingsto the threaded ends of pipe, it is customary to coat both the pipe and the fitting *with a thread lubricant before they are screwedup tight to make the permanent joint. Such lubricantfrequently consists of a mixture of grease and oil of suitable consistency carrying a ller, such as zinc dust or graphite. One function of the lubricant herein generally referred to as grease, Vis to seal off any imperfections which may be present in the threads or any voids such as occur in certain types of threads. f

Heretofore, in order to completely and properly ll the coupling threads without using an extravagant amount of lubricant, it has been necessary to paint on or applythe grease with a brush. This is a somewhat haphazard and ineffective manner of grease application.` 'Io avoid waste, constant supervision has been` required.

.The device of the present inventionaims to eliminate inherent disadvantages in prior practice and to provide a relatively inexpensive Lyet effective means for uniformly distributing an adequate yet small amount `of grease over the periphery of the threads of a coupling or the like for a'predeter'mined length thereof,

The invention will be fully apparent, from the following detailed disclosure when readin conneotion with the accompanying drawing, and will be dened with particularity as required by the Y patent statutes in the appended claims.

In the drawing- Figure l is an end elevation of a device exem-y tion with the cylinder and illustrating the nozzle portion thereof in operative relation to a coupling or similar interiorly threaded article to be.l

greased.

Referring in detail sents a table-like support having legs I2, the support having a forward bracket. I4 for engagement with theforward extremity-of a grease cylinder I6. A U-bolt I8 in coaction with the bracket I4 tothe drawing, I0 repref serves to rigidly secure the grease cylinder to the table-like support.

At its forward extremity, the cylinder VIt has a screw threaded shank 20 which provides means for detachably securing thereto, a grease head indicated generally at 22. This head is provided with Spanner holes 24 to facilitate screwing the head on the shank of the cylinder. The head is providedV with an annular flange 26 vlwhich serves as an end abutment for the coupling C or; other interiorly threaded article to be greased.

Extending forwardly of the flange 26, the grease `head is provided with a nozzle 28.A This nozzle is of hollow shell-like form and inthe embodiment illustrated is slightly tapered to aprequirements. TheV end of the nozzle is' closed by a wall 3U and the annular wall thereof/is provided with a plurality of elongated laterally opening yports 32 through all of which grease is adapted to be expelled so' as 'to distribute an accurately controlled amount of grease `quite uniformly over the interior periphery ofthe threaded article for-a longitudinal length thereof, which is determined approximately by thelength of the nozzle ports 32.

The forward extremity of the cylinder I6 isV provided with a valve seat 34 for coaction with a valve 36 having guide ribs 381slidablyfengaging the interior wall 40 of the cylinder.A The opposite end of the valve has a spring centering projection 42 for coaction with a compression Aspring 44 Whose forward end is centered by a 'lug'4`5 projectinginwardly from the closed end wall of the nozzle.

A grease reservoir 48 communicates by way of a passage 50 with the interior of the cylinder I6.' Mounted for reciprocal movement within the cylinder thereis a plunger 52 which is normally held in the retracted position shown, by means of a compression spring 54, the forward end of which bears against a washer looselyl mounted on the plunger and the rearward end of which reacts against a pin 56 passing plunger.

We preferably provide foot actuated means for imparting a grease feeding Amovement to the,

plunger. As illustrated, thisV means takes the form of a tread1e`58 pivoted at 60 to the sup-Y porting structure, this treadle being operatively through the connected with the plunger in such manner that actuation thereof causes a forward reciprocation of the plunger so as to force the grease received from the reservoir past the check valve 36 and outwardly through the discharge ports 32. As shown in the drawing, the connection between the treadle and the plunger comprises a flexible cable B2 secured at 64 to the treadle and passing over a guide sheave 65 which is journalled on a pin carried by a lug 68 extending downwardly from the cylinder I6 through a slot 10 formed in the table-like support, the end -of the Vcable 62 being connected at 'l2 to the pin 56.

The reservoir is provided `with a plunger 14 which is urged downwardly `by .a weight '1"6, the same being eiective so long as there is grease in the reservoir. When the supply therein 4becomes depleted, the cap 'I8 of thereservoir is lremoved and the plunger is removed by pulling outwardly on a handle 80 secured thereto; whereupon the reservoir is re-lled and the weighted plunger again positioned at the top of the reservoir.

Mounted in juxtaposition to the grease head and .below the same, we provide a receptacle B2 which is adapted to catch any excessigrease or drip which may be present upon removal of the article being greased.

lFrom the foregoing disclosure, it is apparent that the `device provides means whereby couplings and similar interiorly threaded articles can readily have a suiiicient amount of grease applied thereto to fill the threads thereof. 'Ihe device is such that in its operation both hands of the operator are left free. The pressure developed by the operation of the foot treadle is suicient to lcompletely fill the threads with grease or other lubricant. The flange 26 serves the Adouble function of properly positioning the article to be treated and also preventing the outflow of grease therefrom during treatment.

While We have described quite precisely the details of the embodiment illustrated, it is to be understood that the drawing and detailed `description are to be 'interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A device for applying grease to interiorly threaded articles comprising a fixedly positioned grease head having ka nozzle adapted to enter said articles, saidl nozzle having 'a closedend and being provided with a plurality of elongated laterally opening ports, Va cylinder to which 'the grease head is secured, a yieldabl'e'valve between the cylinder and the ports in-said nozzle, a grease .reservoir ecommunicating with 'the interior of said cylinder, a plunger. slidable in the cylinder adapted to force -grease received from said reservoir past said valve and outwardly through the lateral ports in the grease head so as to distribute grease simultaneously overa Wide Aarea of the threaded article into which the nozzle projects, means normally tending to withdraw said plunger, and means acting contrary thereto for imparting a grease expelling movement to the plunger. y

2. A device for applying grease to the screw threads of interiorly threaded articles comprising a xedly mounted grease head with an `annular ilange formed thereon for engagement with the ends of such articles, a nozzle portion on .the grease head positioned in vadvance of said flange, said nozzle being of hollow formation and the outer extremity thereof vbeing a lclosed wall, said nozzle including an annular wall with a plurality of elongated portsextending laterally therethrough to provide for discharge of grease at a plurality of points around the periphery thereof, a cylinder to which said nozzle is detachably secured, a spring pressed check valve arranged to permit flow of. grease from the cylinder'l into and through the nozzle, a grease reservoir communicating with said cylinder, a plunger slidable within said cylinder and eiiective to force grease received from said reservoir past said check valve and laterally outward ythrough said ports, and means for imparting grease feeding movement to said plunger.

3. A device for applying grease to the screw threads of interiorly threaded articles comprising a greaseV head with an annular flange formed thereon for engagement with the ends of such articles, ya nozzle portion on the grease head positioned in advance of said flange, said nozzle being of hollow formation and the cuter extremity thereof being a. closed wall, said nozzle including an annular wall with a plurality `of elongated ports extending laterally therethrough to provide for a discharge of grease Vat a plurality of elongated vareas around the periphery thereof, a cylinder to which said nozzle is detachably secured, a spring pressed check valve arranged topermit flow -of grease :from the cylinder into and through the nozzle, a greasereservoir communicating with said cylinder, a'plunger slidable within said cylinder and effective to force grease received 4from said reservoir past said check valve and laterally outward through said ports, means `tending to retract said plunger, and a manually actuated treadle operatively connected with the plunger effective to impart a grease feeding movement thereto.

4. A device for applying grease to interiorly threaded couplings or the like comprising a grease head having 1a hollow nozzle with a Yclosed end wall and a plurality of spaced laterally opening ports in the peripheral wall thereof, a cylinder to the end of which the nozzle `is detachably secured, a .spring pressed lcheck valve adapted to yield to permit ow of lgrease lfrom the cylinder into .and through `thenozzle, a grease reservoir connected by a passageway with the interior of the cylinder, means in the reservoir effective to force grease therefrom into the cylinder, a plunger slidable in the cylinder, means tending to retract the plunger to a point beyond the connection lbetween the cylinder land the reservoir, and manuallyroperable means for imparting a grease expelling movement to the plunger.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the cylinder is mounted on a ilxed table-like structure and including a manually operable treadle pivotally supported by said Ystructure includingl connections for transmitting movement from the treadle to said plunger. A

6. The device of `claim 4` wherein the cylinder is mounted on a. fixed table-like structure and including a 'manually operable treadle pivotally supported by said structure including connections for transmitting movement of the treadle to `said plunger, and means supported bythe table-like structure 'in Vjuxtaposition to 'the nozzle adapted to receive the drip or excess grease upon disengagement of the work fromrthe nozzle.

' ALFRED `Bonora.

ALVIN H. ENGELHARDT. 

